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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike comes a truly original new novel—Breaking Bad meets Marie Antoinette in a near-future world where the residents of Versailles live like it’s the eighteenth century and an almost-queen turns to drug dealing to save her own life. Outside the palace of Versailles, it’s modern day. Inside, the people dress, eat, and act like it’s the eighteenth century—with the added bonus of technology to make court life lavish, privileged, and frivolous. The palace has every indulgence, but for one pretty young thing, it’s about to become a very beautiful prison. When Danica witnesses an act of murder by the young king, her mother makes a cruel power play . . . blackmailing the king into making Dani his queen. When she turns eighteen, Dani will marry the most ruthless and dangerous man of the court. She has six months to escape her terrifying destiny. Six months to raise enough money to disappear into the real world beyond the palace gates. Her ticket out? Glitter. A drug so powerful that a tiny pinch mixed into a pot of rouge or lip gloss can make the wearer hopelessly addicted. Addicted to a drug Dani can sell for more money than she ever dreamed. But in Versailles, secrets are impossible to keep. And the most dangerous secret—falling for a drug dealer outside the palace walls—is one risk she has to take.

Before I get started, there is a trigger warning for this book. Be warned that there is physical and sexual abuse within its pages.

Glitter is told from the perspective of Danica (or Dani for short…yay!), 17-year-old soon-to-be Queen of Sonoman-Versailles. Except she really doesn’t want to be. After Dani witnesses the King committing a serious crime, her scheming mother makes a deal with the young monarch/CEO: marry title-less Dani in exchange for silence. In fear for her life wed to the King, Dani tries –and fails– to escape, but her desperation and dumb luck present her with an opportunity to get out, at a price.

I don’t think Glitter and I got off on the right foot. I found the concept really interesting, but I felt like I was always trying to catch up with what was going on. The world I was thrust in was confusing, with not enough background detail for me to understand what was happening at any given point until two pages later. However, once Dani’s plan started to unfold, I managed to get my footing and actually enjoy the journey.

Now the reason I was confused was the world. I will admit the world is extremely interesting, and I think a bit more front loading of the world-building would have made a big difference for me. Glitter takes place in the future, so it’s technically science fiction, with advanced technology such as computerised contact lenses and artificial intelligence-controlled robots. However, Pike has managed to mesh past and future, with Dani living in the Palace of Versailles, with all the customs and clothing of 18th century France. Think Marie Antoinette. How was this accomplished? The King’s great-grandfather, CEO of Sonoman, arranged way back when to purchase the palace and surrounding area from France and turn it into a historical site, with employees of the company taking to the old ways with the aid of modern technology.

I’ve probably just confused you more, but it is a baffling idea at first.

While the world was really cool but confounding, I must admit I had a thing for Dani and Saber. Dani was desperate and naive and selfish, but she was not helpless and pathetic. She was extremely clever, with a knack for computers and business. I’m not saying what she did was right, tricking people into addiction, but I still had an odd respect for her strength. I also thought her way of taking control psychologically through tightening her corset was an interesting touch. And then Saber came in, and while I wasn’t completely convinced at first, he managed to give me the butterflies towards the end. When I found out why he was in the position he was in, I was devastated, and yet he kept going strong.

I do feel the need to say something about the King. He was a horrible person and did a horrible thing. BUT. What he was doing before the crime was committed cannot be held against him if it was between two consenting adults. If both parties were enjoying it, then fine. Not my cup of tea, but there are a lot of things that aren’t my cup of tea, but neither are they my business.

The ending was thrilling, and while I was suspicious of how it could possibly end well, I was not expecting the final few pages. I’m still rather shocked and worried about what comes next for Dani, and so I’m hoping there’s a book 2!

Overall, if you can quickly pick up the context of Glitter, I do think it was an interesting, unique and exciting book!

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